The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 is the primary legislation covering occupational health and safety in Great Britain. Employers are obligated to perform risk assessments as a crucial aspect of managing health and safety in the workplace. They must guarantee that risks to all employees and others affected by the work are evaluated and handled.
While there are no specific health and safety regulations that apply only to disabled individuals, all workers, including disabled individuals, must be protected from risks in the workplace. An access audit perfectly covers this and will endure that you meet your legal obligations.
What is an Access Audit?
An Access Audit is a review of a building, environment, or service to determine its accessibility for disabled individuals. It is performed according to best practices and standards and is intended to meet the requirements of the Equality Act 2010.
The audit evaluates what actions are reasonable for the organisation to take to improve accessibility and provides recommendations for necessary adjustments, along with priority ratings and costs. This information can be used to create a plan and budget for implementing the recommended changes.
Why do you need an Access Audit?
An Access Audit is a valuable tool for understanding your organisation’s obligations under the Equality Act 2010 and identifying barriers to accessibility for disabled individuals. The audit provides options for removing these barriers, recommends the most reasonable option to implement, and outlines a plan for implementing the chosen option, including a timeline and cost estimate.
By completing an Access Audit and implementing its recommendations, your organisation can demonstrate a commitment to accessibility and be better prepared to defend against complaints or legal actions brought by disabled individuals.
What our access audits cover
- Building Management
- Approach, Routes & Street Furniture.
- Car Parking
- External Ramps
- External Steps
- Entrances
- Reception & Lobby
- Facilities
- Horizontal Circulation & Corridors
- Internal Doors
- Internal Ramps
- Internal Stairs
- Lifts
- Platform Lift & Stairlifts Etc.
- WC– General Provision
- Accessible WCs
- Lighting & Surfaces
- Signage & Wayfinding
- Acoustics
- Means Of Escape
Work with professional and trusted consultants
At Ligtas, we don’t just tick boxes. We want to work collaboratively with organisations to discuss and help them to manage risk while supporting them to create a healthy and safe environment for all. Ensure that you cover all points, include an access audit in your next risk assessment